Lecce: a Journey Through the Baroque Jewel of Puglia

The exceptional interpretation of the baroque style in Lecce makes this town unique. The baroque here is exuberant and joyful, characterized by festoons, twisted columns, bizarre facemasks, all carved in the local stone. It takes some inspiration from the Spanish cities. The classic tour is a pleasant stroll which starts from Cathedral Square, where you will admire the Cathedral, the Bishopric, the Seminary and the bell tower. Along the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele III, you will be captivated by charming private mansions beautifully ornate with balconies supported by bizarre shapes carved in stone. Saint Irene church is a remarkable example of counter-reformation architecture, and the Basilica of Santa Croce, attached to the ex-monastery of the Celestines, is cheerfully elegant. The tour also includes a papier maché studio, the Roman ruins in the central Piazza Saint Oronzo and a stop in one of the most renowned local cafés to taste the “pasticciotto”, a visit to a private garden.